'Knuckle' star Michael Quinn McDonagh due in court for wife's murder as her funeral is held

The bare knuckle fighter accused of murdering his wife has been denied permission to attend her funeral.

Michael Quinn McDonagh is due to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday to face charges for murdering his wife, Jacqueline McDonagh.

The 34-year-old mother of three was found beaten to death in their Co Louth home last Wednesday. Her husband, a star of the documentary “Knuckle”, was charged with her murder last Saturday at a special sitting of Dundalk District Court.

The victim’s sister, Marie McDonagh, has vowed to look after the couple's three children, Chloe, 14, Nikita, ten and Michael five.

Marie, 36, told the Irish Sun her family would “do anything” for the children.

“If I have to rear my lovely nieces and beautiful nephew I will.”

“There’s absolutely no way Chloe will be a mother to Nikita and Michael because she’s just a child herself.”

“We’re trying to get a compromise with their father’s family because they played a big part in their lives and love them.”